John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 7:40

"But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God." — 1 Corinthians 7:40 (ASV)

But she is happier if she so abide. Why? Is it because widowhood is in itself a virtue? No; but because it will have less to distract, and is more exempt from earthly cares.

As to what he adds—according to my judgment, he does not mean by this expression that his opinion was doubtful; but it is as if he had said that such was his decision as to this question, for he immediately adds that he has the Spirit of God, which is sufficient to give full and perfect authority.

There appears, at the same time, to be somewhat of irony when he says I think. For as the false apostles were again and again boasting in high-sounding terms of their having the Spirit of God, for the purpose of arrogating authority to themselves, and in the meantime endeavored to detract from Paul’s authority, he says that he thinks that he is not less a partaker of the Spirit than they.